Free Mixing Business With Pleasure (Love Conquers All Book 2) by Cheryl Persons

over.”
    “Ha Ha!”  She threw the towel at him and he laughed.  “Fine, see if I ever help you again.”  She acted like she was mad as she headed into the living room.  As she sat down on the couch she heard her cell phone.  “Hello?”
    “Hey babe; it’s Robert.”  She shot a glance towards Matt who was exiting the kitchen.  “Tiffany are you there?”
    “Yeah, I’m here.”  She hadn’t talked to him since Monday when she was late to work.  She had so much going on that she didn’t think spending time with him would be the best idea.  He was too distracting to her other responsibilities.  “What are you doing?”
    “Well, I’m about 10 minutes from your house and I thought I could stop by.  It’s been lonesome the past few days.  I need a pick me up and you know how to deliver that.”
    “Robert, I’m not home.”
    “Oh, well that’s alright.  I can wait until you get home.  Don’t you want to see me?”
    She looked at Matt and he was watching her ; when their eyes met he quickly looked away.  “It’s not a good night.  Tomorrow afternoon would be better.”
    “Are you sure?  I mean , I just thought…”
    “I’m sorry, bye.”  She disconnected the call and turned to Matt who seemed interested in the call.
    “So, who’s Robert?”
    “No one.”
    “You seemed awfully focused to talk to no one.”
    “He’s just a guy; it’s no big deal.”
    He nodded.  “I get it.  He’s one of those guys?”
    “What do you mean by that?”
    “Nothing.  I just meant he is one of those friends with benefits sort of guys.”
    “Something like that.”  She mumbled the words and then reached for her purse.
    “Either he is or he isn’t.  Which is it?”
    “Don’t go lecturing me Matt; you’re not my father.”
    Matt snickered.  “You’re right.  You know exactly what you’re doing.  That’s why you had to call me last night.”  The moment the words came out of his mouth Tiffany could tell he was sorry.  “Tiff, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean that.  I just don’t know why if you need a guy you can’t turn to me.  I could give you what those other guys can’t, a stable future, a family.  You would be happy.  I know you would.  I would walk away from my job for you.  We wouldn’t have to worry about Bruce or anyone else breaking us down.”
    Tiffany couldn’t believe what he was saying.  She hoped he would have gotten over the dream that they could be more than friends.  “I have to get out of here.”  He reached for her hand as she was about to leave and he held on.  She looked down at their intertwined fingers and then slowly pulled away.  “I told you that a relationship with me is no good.  Yet, you don’t give up.  You’re going to end up pushing me away if you don’t stop.  I don’t know that a friendship is going to happen if I have to worry about you bringing up romance.”
    “Tiffany wait.”  He ran to the door to try to stop her, but she was quick to pull away.
    “Thanks for today.”  She opened the door and left his apartment.  She didn’t stop until she got to her car where the tears began to flow.  She didn’t expect to fall for him, but it worried her because she was.  She needed to stay away from him and hope that the feelings would just disappear.
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    “Shoot!”  Matt slammed his fist into the sofa as he sat down.  He was so stupid; he knew that he shouldn’t talk about his feelings again.  He knew that it would only scare her away.  Yet, he did and sure enough she left.  When they laughed and talked, he was certain she was feeling something for him.  Then when she got the call from Robert he had to admit he was jealous.  He wanted her to stay and spend the night with him, but he knew deep down she never would.  She was used to guys that were experienced.  He only had Suzanne to base his love-making.  He leaned back against the couch and moaned.  He didn’t know how he was going to get